Northampton beat Bristol 45-40 in an 11-try cliffhanger, while there were Premiership wins for Wasps, Exeter, Harlequins, Saracens and Leicester.
In an end-to-end match in Bristol, the Saints scored three-second half-tries to get their second win of the season against a team they last lost to in 2008.
Ehren Painter, Andrew Kellaway and Lewis Ludlam crossed in the first half for the visitors, while the impressive Taqele Naiyaravoro, Alex Waller and Mike Haywood scored in the second, as Dan Biggar supported the scoreboard with some deadeye kicking.
Despite the loss, the Bears did pick up a bonus point thanks to first-half tries from Will Hurrell and Harry Thacker, Luke Morahan and Hurrell’s second. Alapati Leiua crossed after the hooter to ensure the hosts also picked up a losing bonus point.
Meanwhile, Saracens kept up their unbeaten start to the season with an impressive 50-27 thrashing of Bath. Welsh winger Liam Williams scored his second hat-trick of the season to add to the five tries from the defending champions, who currently sit top of the log.
In other results, Juan de Jongh scored a crucial try for Wasps to allow them to take a 22-20 victory away from Newcastle, Johan Ackermann’s Gloucester lost their second game in a row as they went 27-25 down to Harlequins, Exeter stayed in touch with Saracens by beating the Worcester Warriors 28-11 and the Leicester Tigers piled more misery onto the Sale Sharks with a 19-15 win.
Round 5 results:
Newcastle Falcons 20 Wasps 22
Bristol Bears 40 Northampton Saints 45
Exeter Chiefs 28 Worcester Warriors 11
Gloucester 25 Harlequins 27
Saracens 50 Bath 27
Leicester Tigers 19 Sale Sharks 15
Photo: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
